The Dobermans need their ears cleaned about once a month, and Winston had to have his glands expressed about a year ago, but not since. Dance hasn't needed either yet. I check her ears every time I trim them, but they're never dirty.

I don't do anal glands as a routine. I learned the hard way when I caused an impaction on my last great dane and she had chronic troubles for the rest of her life.

IF the dog is having troubles, I'll express them as needed. If not, I let nature take it's course. To be a little graphic, Hannah's glands express themselves freely each time she has a bowel movement, as do most dogs'.

Ears are wiped out as needed. Both of my dogs are swimmers, so it's something I do keep an eye on.

There are two methods for expressing a dog's anal glands.http://www.raisingspot.com/health_ca...anal_gland.php
External expression
Hold your dog's tail up and gently pull it back toward his head with one hand. Put a tissue or paper towel in your other hand. Place your thumb and forefingers just below the anus at the 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions respectively. You should be able to feel the anal glands under the skin as pea- or bean-sized bumps. Press in firmly and squeeze your thumb and forefingers together over the glands to express them. You can visit the Dachshund Network website for tips on expressing dog anal glands or sacs.

Internal expression
Internal expression involves inserting a finger in your dog's anus and squeezing each gland between the thumb and finger. You should ask your veterinarian for specific instructions so you don't risk damaging the delicate tissues.

Whichever method you choose, make sure you receive adequate instruction from a professional. There's no substitute for hands-on learning, particularly when you're dealing with a sensitive part of your dog's anatomy.